Coating apparatus



May 7, 1929. J. G. JONES COATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet huuoooocow omoo o0 INVEN TOR, Jone Fla i Jalm/ G.

May 7, 1929. J. G. JONES COATING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 1, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

;.JOHN G. JONES, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR 10 EASTMAN KODAK COM- PANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

coarme APPARATUS.

Applicatiop filed October 1, 1925. Serial No. 59,910.

This invention relates to coating apparatus and more particularly to means for applying a liquid coating evenly to both surfaces of a long strip of material, provision being made for leaving the borders ormarginal portions uncoated'.

I have found that smooth and even coatings may be applied simultaneously when such a strip is drawn up through a split trough, that is, a trough or container for the coating material which is composed of two sections between which the band passes, the upward movement of the hand through the slit preventing the loss of liquid.

For photographic purposes an even coatlng is especially desirable, and the band should be conveyed with absolute steadiness past the coating station. I have found that a suction conveyor by which the margins of the band are engaged, furnishes a smooth and steady movement and results in a very uniform coating.

There are many reasons for which uncoated margins are sometimes desirable and the structure herein described furnishes such borders. 2 v

Other features and objects of my invention will appear from the following descrip tion, reference being made to the accompanying drawing wherein Fig. 1 is a view showing schematically the means for conveying a band of material past the coating station.

Fig. 2 is a View from the right of Figure 1 showing the conveying means.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the coating apparatus.

Fig. 4: is a side View of the coating apparatus.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Thbdtb .td h'h b f e an 0 8 00a 8 W 16 may 8 0 the shank 27 ofa screw secured in the bottom paper, pyroxylin or other material, is furnished from a roll 2 supported in any suitable way and passes over guide rollers 3 the last of which is so positioned that the band 1 passes vertically upwardly from it through the coating trough 4. The coating trough comprises two containers 5 and 6 having open facing sides between which the-band passes, fitting rather snugly, as will be more fully described hereinafter. The band is wider than than the trough and its borders which passoutside the end walls 14 of the containers are engaged by endless, perforated,

metallic belts 8 driven by pulleys 9 carried on suitable driven shafts 10.

These bands pass over long narrow chambore 11 which are open at the side toward band 1, and from which air is exhausted through suitable'ducts 12. The air pressure maintains the margins of band 1 snugly against belts 8 which contact the flat edges 12 of chambers 11, and which convey the band at a very uniform rate through the coating apparatus. It is to be understood that there are two of these chambers 11, one on each side of the troughs. In Fig. 1, they are in line and only one appears, .and in Fig. 2 they are beneath the bands 8.

Each of the, containers 5 and 6 which together constitute the split trough 4 has a rear wall 13, end walls 14.- and a bottom 15, but no front Wall. The bottom slopes slightly upwardly from back to front as shown at 16 and-a bafile 17 with apertures 18 is situated parallel to the rear wall 13, its bottom edge contacting with a seating plate 19 in the bottom. The purpose of the baffles is to prevent eddies in the liquid coating material which is supplied through pipes 20 behind the baflle plates. In the lower facing portions of the bottom are lips 21 secured by screws 22 and formed to constitute smooth entrance surfaces for the band 1.

The trough is carried on a fixed support 23, portions of which are shown in the various figures. The container 6 is normally fixed in position with respect to the support but the container 5 is capable of ready adjustment and removal. This member is carried on a support 32 which in turn is carried on a partof the fixed support 23.

In the support 23 are bores 24 within each of which is slidably positioned a tubular member 25 having an annular bottom 26 encircling handle is pointed upwardly as shown in Fig. 5, the thicker'part of the cams will bear against the projections 31 and push plate 32, and with it the container 5, against the force of springs 29, thus bringing lips 21 close together. When the handle is swung down springs 29 cause projections 31 to follow the cams and the lips 21 to separate.

Plate 32 carries an upwardly extending post 38 which has a screw thread engagement 39 therewith and which has a transverse bore 40. 611 the bottom of container 5 are lugs 41 and a2 through which are bores 43 and 44:, containing a sliding latch 45, the end 46 of which is pressed into bore by spring 47 which engages lug 42 and a pin 47 on the latch On the outer end of latch is a handle 49 having a web 51 which interengages with cam seats on the outer face of lug 42 and causes the positioning of the latch in retracted or inserted. position. This latch secures container 5 on the plate or permits its ready removal therefrom.

in practice, the trough to be used is designed in accordance with the width of the material to be coated and the vacuum chambers are also adjusted for this width. The

two ,parts of the trough are separated and the the band, so that the latter can bedrawn smoothly up between the parts of the trough. The coating material is then admitted to both sides of the container if the material is to be double coated, though the apparatus could be used for coating one side only. In the latter case the edges of the side walls and bottom wall of the empty trough together constitute a retaining or supporting member holding the film in position against the other trough member, while the film is moved upwardly and coated. Thev upward movement of the band is sufficient to counteract and prevent the flow of liquid coating material downwardly through the crevice. After leaving the coater the band may be'treated or dried in any desirable way, the edges being engaged by the usual grippers, tenterhooks or the like.

It is obvious that numerous embodiments of my invention are possible, the one herein disclosed being merely by way of example,

and I contemplate as included within my invention all such modifications and equivalents as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for coating both surfaces of a band of material, two entirely separated complementary containers for coating material, the containers open toward one another, and means on each side laterally of said containers for engaging the borders only of a band of material and propelling it between said containers whereby the borders will be uncoated and the central part of the band will be coated.-

2. In a machine for coating both surfaces of strip material, two complementary entirely separated containers for coating material and having racing open sides, a vacuum box on each side laterally of said containers, and perforated bands adapted to be drawn over-said boxes and to engage the borders only of a strip of material wider than the containers and draw the strip between the containers.

3. In a machine for coating both surfaces of strip material, two complementary troughlike entirely separated containers having registering end and bottom'walls and open toward one another, vacuum boxes on each side laterally of said end walls and perforated bands adapted to be drawn over said boxes and to engage the borders only of a strip of material wider than the containers and draw the strip between'the containers.

4. In, a machine for coating a band of material, a trough-like container having end walls and a bottom wall and completely open along one side, a retaining member at least as long as the open side of the container and adapted to support a strip of material against the open side of the container, and means on each side laterally of the container adapted to engage the borders only of a band of material beyond the edge walls in a lateral direction and to propel the band thereby between the container and member, whereby the borders of the band may remain uncoated.

Signed at Rochester, New York, this 25th day of September, 1925.

JOHN G. JONES. 

